1724 Wood’s Hibernia pattern halfpenny. Martin 9.2-P.1, W-Unlisted. Rarity-7+. Scepter and Trident reverse. Proof-64 BN (PCGS).133.9 grains. An exciting and interesting rarity in this series, using the attractive “Goiter Neck” bust found on 1724 Rosa Americana pattern issues as well as another 1724 pattern Wood’s Hibernia halfpenny muled to a reverse depicting a crossed scepter and trident, a reference to England’s dominions across the seas. The surfaces are smooth, glossy, and even, an ideal medium brown shade that offers exceptional eye appeal. No significant marks are seen, just a short scratch below N of VNVS and some light trivial evidence of handling. The high rounded relief of the obverse portrait is boldly struck up on the nicely prepared planchet. A short lintmark may be seen inside the obverse rim below 12:00. <p>While Don Taxay traced four specimens in the 1970s, Michael Hodder noted six in the 2005 Ford VII catalog: this coin, the lovely Norweb coin, the November 1968 Merkin - Robison coin, the Boyd-Ford coin, the Massachusetts Historical Society coin (unseen by Hodder, presumably still there, though the Boyd-Ford coin had a century-old Appleton provenance) and the Norweb duplicate (unseen by Hodder), which seems to be the one that Taxay identified in the ANS Collection. Of those, only the primary Norweb coin is finer. Martin rates this as an R-7+ variety. It is among the highlights of this offering.PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer.From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s sale of the second John L. Roper Collection, December 1983, lot 128; Wayte Raymond to John Work Garrett, April 20, 1921; Bowers and Ruddy’s sale of the Garrett Collection, Part III, October 1980, lot 1275.
